Rad-Sat is a NERC Highlight Topic that brings together a consortium of scientists from 5 different UK research groups, stakeholders from the space industry and a network of international collaborators. The project will deliver new processed data, a better forecasting capability and expertise that will support the UK Government assessment of severe space weather for the National Risk Register and the growth of the satellite industry. Further information can be found at www.rad-sat.ac.uk
Over the last 10 years the number of operational satellites in orbit has grown from 450 to more than 1400. We rely on these satellites more than ever before for a wide range of applications such as mobile phones, TV signals, internet, navigation and financial services. All these satellites must be designed to withstand the harsh radiation environment in space for a design life that can be as long as 15 years or more.
During magnetic storms the electron flux inside the radiation belts can increase by four orders of magnitude on a timescale of a few days, but this increase can be as fast as 2 minutes. The flux can also decrease rapidly over a period of a few minutes, but usually takes place more slowly over a period of several days. We do not understand why these timescales vary so much. It is the increase in flux and its duration that poses a major risk to satellites. Thus to help satellite designers, operators and space insurance assess the impact of space weather and mitigate its effects we need to understand how the radiation belts are formed and what controls the variability.
New results from the NASA Van Allen Probes and THEMIS satellite missions show that wave-particle interactions play the major role in the acceleration, transport and loss of high energy electrons and hence the variability of the radiation belts. Therefore the project focusses on key scientific questions associated with wave-particle interactions.
The goal of this proposal is to determine the acceleration, transport and loss of high energy electrons due to wave-particle interactions and use them in state-of–the-art modelling and forecasting of space weather events to protect satellites. To achieve this goal we have set six scientific objectives.
The goal of this proposal is to determine the acceleration, transport and loss of high energy electrons due to wave-particle interactions and use them in state-of-the-art modelling and forecasting of space weather events to protect satellites.
To achieve this goal we have set 6 scientific objectives:
Science Leader - IMP 1
BAS Science Strategy Executive Group, Space Weather and Atmosphere team, BAS Executive team
The Rad-Sat Project is lead by Richard Horne at the British Antarctic Survey. The following organisations and people are also involved:
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| Sarah Bentley | Marina Georgiou |
4 March, 2020
British Antarctic Survey is pleased to announce the Appleton Prize 2020 has been awarded to Professor Richard Horne, Head of the Space Weather and Atmosphere science team at British Antarctic …
